SPAIN | Ararteko Research Study: Sexist Attitudes among the Youth

Gender equality is a universal legal principle, as well as a value and goal for any democratic society. While decisive steps have been taken to achieve the full legal recognition of formal equality, difficulties remain in achieving effective and material equality. Concerns refer to the alleged perpetuation and acceptance among the youth and adolescents of sexist patterns and conducts that were believed to be eradicated. New generations embracing —from early childhood and organically— gender equality is fundamental to advance towards an equal society.

In this light, in October 2024, the Ararteko-Ombudsman of the Basque Country presented a research “Study on Sexist Attitudes among the Youth and Adolescent Population of the Basque Country”. The research is intended to allow a better understanding of the phenomenon of sexist attitudes among the youth and adolescence and extract a series of conclusions, to use them as a basis for recommendations to support decision-makers and improve public policies on gender equality.

The research study has been elaborated using qualitative and quantitative research techniques, including surveys and focus group discussions with the youth and adolescents. Moreover, in May 2024, a citizen’s forum was organized in Bilbao (Spain), where young people, academic and civil society representatives participated to discuss the initial findings of the research study’s field work. Those reflections further inspired the ultimate assessment and proposals of the research study.   

The research study highlights some positive trends relating gender equality among the youth and adolescence: increased awareness of gender stereotypes; sexuality is experienced in a more natural manner and with less prejudices, and romantic partnerships are more open and diverse; progress towards a more equal sharing of domestic work and caring responsibilities in early adulthood; increased awareness of gender-based discrimination; Basque youth incorporates the importance of equality between boys and girls more naturally into their discourse (at least on a theoretical level).

Despite the above, there are still various elements for concern: their main source of information on sexuality is the Internet/social media and pornography; girls are hypersexualized and sexuality is experienced in a highly stereotyped way, detached from emotional needs and accepting violent canons devoid of the necessary respect for people and their dignity (especially girls); persistence of sexist stereotypes in many areas; and discourses justifying inequalities.    

Drawing from the conclusions of the research study, the Ararteko proposes a set of guidelines for action recommended to the Basque public authorities to fulfil their duty to foster gender equality among children, adolescents and young people, with the aim to advance on the level of discourse and values and to undertake concrete actions and measures. The proposals include the following:

1. Instil new meaning to the value of feminism as a thought that frees and benefits women and men; explain gender equality as a common goal for women and men.
2. Eliminate sexist stereotypes
3. Act strategically to get introduce gender equality messaging across the youth’s world: work at spaces outside formal education, search for equality alliances between girls and boy, foster education for equality, involve families.
4. Educate and disseminate messages that tackle the trivialisation of male violence against women and clarify its relentless link with sexism and structural inequality between women and men.
5. Explain in the public discourse the link between gender-based violence and the social media: clarify that sexual violence against women is a form of gender-based violence that is fuelled in the social media and online from early ages and offer whistleblower channels to ensure that victims are supported and protected.
6. Educate from an early age —both in the family and at school– on broad and rigorous knowledge of human sexuality and on the ethics of respectful and equal sexual relations, to prevent the use of the type of pornography that is contrary to people’s dignity (particularly women and girls).

Kindly refer to the download section below to read the study summary.

Source: Ararteko - Ombudsman of the Basque Country, Spain